Does " keeping up" with the news help you?

[randomer]

I am torn between some attempt to comprehend, to be informed, to intellectualise ,and the knowledge that it is unfathomable and full of lies.I don't live in Leicester ( as an example) and my MH is fragile.

Just wondering how others feel.

I find keeping up with the developing science and the statistics more helpful than the news as such.
The news is 1. Driven by political agendas and 2. Prone to exaggerate both good and bad things to make a dramatic story. 3. Prone to emphasise conflict for the same reason.
I like to know what is going on but much of the reporting has the effect of raising anxiety levels.

Knowledge is power

Honestly, no. I stopped watching the news months and months back. I occasionally check the number of cases /deaths but other than that I avoid it every day, as it was making me unwell to hear all this bad news day in and day out.

I like to keep up with the medical news and scientific discoveries, I find it very interesting, and yes it does help.
I'm not interested in the 'Boris is shit' and the 'rammed beaches' side of the news though.

It depends from where. The Times is usually OK and quite well written. The BBC I find dramatic (and sometimes factually wrong). So maybe chose where you get it from - I have heard a good idea is to only look at it now and again (say once a day) as well.

Yes, things have changed so much since the beginning in terms of understanding the transmission, severity and prevalence. I think if your view is still mostly influenced by what the news was in April, for example, things would be much more scary than if you are up to date

You might like this OP- at the bottom is a link to sources with facts etc in case it helps a bit www.blurtitout.org/resource/the-coronavirus-helpful-hub/

I find other ways, can’t read rags.
I don’t consider what they print to be unbiased, or actual knowledge.

Why people keep supporting them I have no idea.
Can just about tolerate bbc. A bit bland though.

We do not have an unbiased press in the uk.
It’s depressing.

I still manage to keep up with current affairs but make sure a larger part of my existence consumes something more positive, less divisive and hysterical.

Are there any downsides to being well-informed?

@crosseyedMary I agree, it feels I have some tiny bit of control over an uncontrollable situation by keeping up to date on what’s happening.

@crosseyedMary, it takes time and effort and a clear head maybe?

I try to keep up with changes to rules, guidelines etc and with infection rates and numbers of deaths, potential treatments etc. I'm interested in scientific developments.

I hate seeing all the raves, protests and crowded beaches in the news.

I don't think there is any news anymore. It all seems to be just speculating on what the Govt will say and do and people taking what the newspapers say, rather than listening to what the Govt actually say.

No I’d rather source independent information. The media is incredibly biased. Tbh I struggle to believe anything that the rags or the news outlets are saying now.

Randomer
slightly disingenuous of me I admit...
I totally get the need to avoid/limit exposure to scaremongering and unhelpful speculation, we need good clear information, the problem is finding it

Indeed @crosseyedMary, where to find something truthful, relaively easy to follow and not packed full of political nonsense?

Because of my job people expect me to know what's going on in the covid news. I wish I could park it all in a little box to be entirely ignored.